Police Spot Man with Imitation Firearm at Belmont

BY KAYNE STEPHENS

A 21-year-old man will face court after allegedly possessing an unregistered firearm in Belmont on Thursday.

Police say the man was spotted by officers as they were passing on the Pacific Highway at around 2pm, noticing a man holding a pistol.

Officers say they approached the man, where he resisted arrest.

A search of the man uncovered a modified gel blaster.

Lake Macquarie Commander, Superintendent Danny Sullivan APM, said police treat imitation weapons as real firearms to ensure community safety.

“Imitation firearms can often be hard to distinguish from the real deal, as they are modelled closely on real weapons," he said.

“If a weapon looks real, officers will treat it as authentic until such a time that the weapon can be analysed – public safety will always come first,” Supt Sullivan said.

The man was taken to Belmont Police Station and charged with offences including possessing an unregistered firearm and resisting arrest. He was refused bail and faces Belmont Local Court today.

Police Plan for Strike as Government Ignores Complaints

BY TYLER FARDELL


In a move which the local police force had been waiting for, the State Government announced plans for a re-engineering of the Hunter's police management.

They've proposed moving Maitland's upper police management across to Port Stephens and Cessnock's into the Hunter Valley.

However, the Government did not appoint any new police officers to the Hunter Valley, something which they've been calling for a long time.

In response to this, Police from the Hunter unanimously supported taking industrial action at a meeting on Thursday if they don't hear back from the Government within seven days.

This situation would be unprecedented in the Hunter, with around 600 police officers undertaking industrial action for an expected six weeks.

Actions could include officers not issuing infringement notices for traffic violations but instead warnings, and not policing large events and performing administrative tasks.

Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery praised the Police force for the planned strike but says it should have never come to this.

"It's ridiculous that the government has continually ignored this issue", she said.

"The Hunter is understaffed by at least 20 officers and resources are stretched. "I'm glad the police are taking this step so the government can't ignore this issue any further".

Former Catholic Brother charged with additional offences

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE


NSW Police have charged a former Catholic Brother with historical indecent assault offences alleged to have occurred in Newcastle.

14 charges of aggravated indecent assault were laid against the now 84-year-old man, who is understood to have been previously charged with similar offences of a similar nature.

The charges relate to alleged assaults against five boys at an education facility in Hamilton between 1971 and 1974.

The former Brother currently remains in custody pending his appearance at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 27th April.

Police detectives commenced their investigations into the matter in 2012 under Stike Force Georgiana, and these investigations are ongoing.